AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Longhorns, ranked No. 3, will be hosting the No. 16 seed Clemson Tigers in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff. The thrilling matchup is set for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, December 21, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and will be aired on TNT/Max. Commentary will be provided by Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (reporter).
Texas is making its second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff after finishing as the three seed in 2023, where they reached the semifinal against the No. 2 Washington Huskies at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. With 11 straight weeks of top-10 rankings in the CFP, dating back to October 31, 2023, Texas has solidified its place as a formidable contender. This season, they debuted in the No. 5 slot during the first CFP rankings announced on November 5, marking the highest ranking for the program in this initial week. Throughout the last 15 rankings, Texas has consistently been in the top-25, and has a total of 27 appearances, peaking at No. 2. The Longhorns also rank No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls as of December 8.
This upcoming face-off will be the first-ever meeting between Texas and Clemson. The victor will advance to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 57th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where they will compete against the Big 12 Champion, No. 4 seed Arizona State, at noon CT on January 1, 2025, in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with coverage on ABC/ESPN.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian is in the spotlight as he leads his programs to eight postseason appearances in his 11 years as a head coach. Previously, he took Washington to four consecutive bowl games from 2010 to 2013 and led USC to the Holiday Bowl in 2014. Notably, Sarkisian was the head coach for the Huskies’ Alamo Bowl appearance against Baylor in 2011.
For fans looking to attend the College Football Playoff First Round Game, season ticket holders can request their regular seat and parking locations for the match against Clemson. They must log into their accounts for the purchase, with a deadline set for Monday, December 9, at 4 p.m. Central. General public tickets will not be available, but fans can check out SeatGeek, the official fan-to-fan ticket marketplace of Texas Athletics, for options. Additionally, donors at the Tradition level of the Longhorn Foundation or higher can also request tickets for potential future CFP games.
The anticipation for this matchup and the potential for the Longhorns to further their postseason journey brings excitement not only to fans but also reaffirms Texas’s position as a strong competitor in college football. The determination and skill displayed by the team this season provide a hopeful outlook as they head into the playoffs.